The latest piece of politically correct lunacy to strike these fair shores has organisers of an Australia Day rock concert placing a ban on the Australian Flag because it might be regarded as a "gang colour" - and, get this, a symbol of hate to boot.
Yes, I suppose it's a gang colour alright, and there are 20 million of us in the gang, give or take a few, of all races, creeds, political views and religions, who subscribe to its philosophy of fair play and a fair go, free speech, surf, sun, barbecues, and the right to worship (or not worship) how you choose, to drink beer, watch sport and listen to whatever music we like, with impunity. But apparently, we don't really count.
Sadly, the organisers of the Big Day Out, a series of concerts traditionally held across the continent on the Australia Day holiday on January 26, don't see it that way. They have singled out Sydney, Australia's largest and most cosmopolitan city, and the birthplace of the nation, for special treatment because of the flag's association with alcohol-fueled youths who went on the rampage at Sydney's Cronulla Beach in 2005, stupidly attacking and bashing anyone who looked like they might have been of middle-eastern descent. Among the terrified victims were a Greek Australian couple, a Muslim woman who had her headscarf pulled off and two visitors to Sydney who had their car windows smashed in a nice welcome-to-Australia while they were enjoying what at any other time would have been a tranquil view of the blue Pacific.
Apparently labelling Sydney a hot-bed of racism (it's not), the Big Day Out's organisers have changed the date of the Sydney concert to Australia Day eve, and warned concert-goers that any Aussie flag, even if it's just a bandana or a T-shirt, will be confiscated at the gate. But elsewhere in Australia, they've decided, these draconian rules won't apply.
The background to all this has as its genesis the clash of cultures that led to the Cronulla riots, and the subsequent violent retaliation by car loads of mainly Muslim youths of middle-eastern descent from Sydney's strongly-Arab south-western suburbs, who arrived en masse for retribution and returned the favour with relish. Their victims included a man walking home from the pub, another taking out his garbage and a boy stabbed in the back walking with his sister along a quiet suburban street some miles from the scene of the trouble.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Nancy
Perhaps all of you ought to arrive in PANTS bearing the flag of Oz - and let the authorities try to confiscate them, thereby creating a bunch of bare-assed patriotic Aussies!
You're right: this sort of thing is ridiculous. And why is it that the rest of us must always make some sort of provision to accomodate the muslims? It seems a disproportionate percentage of muslims create problems where ever they go.
2 - Emry
Nancy, this so-called "rest of us" you talk about have made life a living hell the Aborigines since 1788. Forget about accomodation and think about oppression and misery.
3 - Nancy
??? That was a non-sequitur. What the hell are you talking about? I was addressing the flag issue. BTW, the aborigines seem to be targets of the muslim invaders just like everyone else, if I've read correctly.
4 - Adrian
It is a private company, they are making a decision based on security. Isn't it a little ironic that the same people prepared to roll over when Howard reduces civil liberties for the public get in a huff when a private company exercises their right to restrict clothing worn within their private function? If people don't like, don't go.
This is a completely nothing story being blown out of proportion by columnists who glorify in an attitude that immigrants are fine, as long as they act like us. They revel in the stereotype of Australians as beer-loving, cricket-loving friendly jokers, and yet hide from the racism that is a large part of the Australia psyche. We have destroyed the culture of Australian Aborigines, long denied them any vote or say, and still blame them for their own situation. We eradicated our native languages, and then have the gall to deny immigrants entry into Australia if they are not quick enough to learn English. And please, let us not fall for the tired attack on Muslims - the people leading these attacks know little about international events, and equally attack anyone different, whether race/religion/language/sexuality.
I wish the ban on the Australian flag was not necessary at this event, but wishing does not make the racist thugs start to respect diversity.
5 - Rick Eyre
Let's check some facts, Stan.
Sydney's Big Day Out is NOT held on Australia Day this year. The organisers have shifted it to January 25 this year.
The Big Day Out concerts - which are held in both Australia and New Zealand, not just in this continent - are held over a period of two weeks, not all on the same day, and NEVER all on Australia Day.
My view is that the BDO organisers have a valid concern, but expressed it in a very clumsy and naive manner. The kneejerk reaction from the pollies, the Murdoch comic books and so forth have done more damage and will create more tension than the BDO's initial faux pas would ever have generated.
Sure, if people want to take the Aussie flag along, maybe even wave it in tune with Laura Imbruglia, let them. But please don't let it be used as a banner for the "You Flew Here We Grew Here" yobbos.
Oh, and the whole issue has nothing to do with Islam.
6 - S.T.M
Rick, the story does point out that the concert has shifted to Australia Day eve ... the 25th then. And yes, Muslim Australians have suffered and been marginalised in this country, but some have also done some damage to the wellbeing of the nation too. Perhaps those are issies better dealt with by handing out olive branches rather than big sticks,
And this has nothing to do with reconciliation with Aboriginal Australians. That's a separate issue that hopefully will get more currency once John Hoawrd is punted.
Don't worry ... there are plenty of indigenous Australians who'd think a ban of this kind, even though it's at a concert, is absurd.
Anger at ridiculous aspects of PC isn't confined to the rabid right in Australia.
7 - S.T.M
Nancy, people will tell you this has nothing to do with muslims, which is not strictly true.
It actually does, since this ban results from the actions of people who wrapped themselves in the Australian flag and targeted Musliam Arab-Australians in race riots at Cronulla.
Australians of middle-eastern descent were the victims of that, though ... and no one with an ounce of conscience could suggest otherwise.
8 - Emry
S.T.M, complaining about flag flying and "politically correct lunacy" in a country that blatantly oppresses the indigenous inhabitants is ridiculous.
When does the "...philosophy of fair play and a fair go..." ever apply to the Aborigines?
9 - Dan
The concert is not on Australia Day, it's on the 25th of January and the organisers have not banned the flag at all.
It's a real shame you don't know more about the facts of the story before publishing it.
10 - STM
Dan, yes, they did ban the flag ... and the story does say that the concert, traditionally held in Sydney on Australia, has been moved to Australia Day eve. Perhaps you should read the story first.
Emry, I agree with you about the treatment of Indigenous Australians. However, while it's not enough, I do believe that the moves towards reconciliation in all aspects of Australian life over the past 30 years have been the catalyst for some real changes that hopefully might be ongoing.
Even those priveleged schools you've derided me over in previous threads have made opportunities available to boys in the past 20 years that wouldn't have been available 30 years ago - I can think of two in particuilar in Sydney, both Catholic, although a snooty Anglican one has done the right thing recently too.
My own experience of that is there has been no drama for the boys there because of race - although one had to be talked out of joining the National Party because he thought he could be of more benefit to his people that way. But those things are a good start.
My personal hope and vision for this country, for what it's worth, is one of inclusion, for all Australians.
It also doesn't involve John Howard and his populist brand of right-wing politics.
Hopefully we will soon get a Prime Minister who can say one simple word: "Sorry" - and if you're an Aussie, you'll know what I mean by that.
Until that happens, any continuation of the healing process sadly remains on hold.
11 - STM
In the interests of fairness: the big day out organisers have posted this on their website today, clarifying their position.
12 - Lara
So suddenly because an organiser says so out flag is now inciting racism?
If you dont like the flag you can move somewhere where it won't shine!
I am sick of pussy footing around political correctness. You want to live here, then live as an Australian, be proud of our democracy and stop crying about what happend several hundred or only a couple of hundred years ago!
13 - Zedd
STM
I understand your frustration and it does seem PC but it also looks like a security issue.
A few months back, I was googling and ended up on an Australian Skinhead group. They were highly focused on Middle Easterners and talked about crashing events. They discussed the neighborhoods that you referred to and referred to them as vermin and every thing else as you can imagine..
I guess what I am saying is that, perhaps for the normal public, there is no issue. But maybe this ME community experiences far more than is noted, also perhaps the authorities are aware of threats that the public isn't aware of. It seems like a safety measure.
I am however interested in how you said the problem started when they immigrated to Australia. Perhaps the Aboriginals would say something different.
14 - Clavos
Stan,
Nice piece, Mate. You're getting a good variety of POVs, too.
Couldn't help notice the JD logo on the BDO website.
Heh. Fair dinkum whiskey.
15 - STM
Yes, there were minor problems at the concert last year (on Australia Day, when it's traditionally held) but nothing serious.
Australians of Arabic descent (and my guess is most just want to be accepted in Australia) have certainly been targeted, but they give as good as they get, don't worry ... still, it's pretty sickening that a) the national flag is hijacked by racist dickheads, who think it's OK to use it to fuel race-hate attacks, and b) that organisers of a rock concert subsequently think they have to avoid any risk by stopping people from bringing in flags.
They now say they are not, but they did say yesterday they didn't want flags there.
I would also point out that this issue really has nothing to do with indigenous Australians, except that some - not all - obviously very much don't see the flag as a symbol of inclusion.
You will never, ever get an argument from me about how badly indigenous Australians have been treated. It's a disgrace, really, but I really believe most people would like to see it put right. It is now too late to change the past, but not the future. I have tried to do small things on a personal level (in an area where I can do it) to redress some things, which everyone should do, as anyone can say they want change in relation to this but then do nothing about it.
There is certainly a genuine mood of reconciliation taking root but we will not see any more ground made up on that issue at government level until this right-wing federal government is gone and is replaced by one that actually has a touch of compassion about it.
16 - STM
Thanks Clav ... a couple from people telling me the concert was no longer on Australia Day and that I should check the facts. Oh, look, it's in the story!
I knew it would bring out those who'd want to compare this to the plight of Aboriginal Australians. To be honest, I wouldn't insult the indigenous community by drawing that bow. What's been done to Aborigines here goes far beyond any of this stuff. But it doesn't change the fact we are having lots of problems here at the moment unrelated to that.
I hope Australians of all persuasions decide to stand up and be counted at the next federal election and vote in a new government that might have the wherewithal to properly deal with some of these issues in a way that isn't confrontational.
17 - ProfEssays
Perhaps, Muslems want to replace Australian flag with some green banner?
18 - Nancy
I was obviously out of line to say anything, seeing as I know nothing. My bad. Mark Twain once warned "beware of anyone who wraps themselves in religion or The Flag: they're up to no good". That would seem to apply universally in every country.
19 - Angelo
You subversive liberal tools fail to understand that it will always be in man's genetic programming, the need to defend one's culture, clan, ethnic group, family and the symbols thereof. The day will come when Islam is ascendant that you will be the first ones slain in the name of Allah and his prophet. Every great society eventually falls from within. Western culture is well on it's way. The Koran does not place a value on tolerance, abortion, diversity, gay rights etc. Muslims see you for what you are, weak and ignorant, but very useful.
20 - Zedd
Nancy #18
I was comming on this thread to say what you just posted. I was trying to think of a way to say it that wouldn't be too offensive and then I read your contribution and thought, YES!
So Ditto to what she said!